Threat assessment level determination and remediation for a cloud-based multi-layer security architecture

ABSTRACT

A device may obtain information regarding a security situation of a set of computing resources associated with a cloud-based platform. The information may be related to an ongoing security threat or a potential security threat. The information may be obtained utilizing one or more internet security resources. The device may determine a threat assessment level, of a set of threat assessment levels, for the security situation based on the information regarding the security situation. The information regarding the security situation may satisfy a set of threshold criteria for the threat assessment level. The device may perform one or more response actions associated with the threat assessment level based on the security situation. The one or more response actions may include providing an alert notification regarding the security situation that identifies the threat assessment level.

BACKGROUND

A cloud-based computing platform may be utilized to operate a set ofservers associated with a web platform. The cloud-based computingplatform may include a scalable set of computing resources that may beselectively assignable to a particular portion of the web platform or toperform a particular function of the web platform. For example, a userof the cloud-based computing platform may request and may be provided afirst quantity of computing resources to manage a first quantity ofdemand and a second quantity of computing resources to manage a secondquantity of demand.

SUMMARY

According to some possible implementations, a method may includeobtaining, by a device, information regarding a security situation of aset of computing resources associated with a cloud-based platform. Theinformation may be related to an ongoing security threat or a potentialsecurity threat. The information may be obtained utilizing one or moreinternet security resources. The method may include determining, by thedevice, a threat assessment level, of a set of threat assessment levels,for the security situation based on the information regarding thesecurity situation. The information regarding the security situation maysatisfy a set of threshold criteria for the threat assessment level. Themethod may include performing, by the device, one or more responseactions associated with the threat assessment level based on thesecurity situation. The one or more response actions may includeproviding an alert notification regarding the security situation thatidentifies the threat assessment level.

According to some possible implementations, a system may include aplurality of cloud-based networks associated with a web platform. Afirst cloud-based network, of the plurality of cloud-based networks, mayinclude a first set of virtual networks. A second cloud-based network,of the plurality of cloud-based networks, may include a second set ofvirtual networks. The second set of virtual networks may resemble aportion of the first set of virtual networks. The system may include adevice. The device may obtain information regarding a security situationassociated with the web platform. The device may identify a threatassessment level, of a set of threat assessment levels, corresponding tothe security situation. The threat assessment level may be associatedwith a set of threshold criteria that are satisfied by the securitysituation. The threat assessment level may be associated with a set ofresponse actions that are associated with remediating the securitysituation. The device may cause one or more response actions, of the setof response actions, to be performed to remediate the securitysituation. The one or more response actions may include providing analert notification regarding the security situation that identifies thethreat assessment level.

According to some possible implementations, a computer-readable mediummay store instructions that, when executed by one or more processors,cause the one or more processors to obtain information regarding asecurity situation of a set of computing resources. The information maybe related to an ongoing security threat or a potential security threat.The information may be obtained utilizing one or more Internet securityresources. The one or more instructions, when executed by the one ormore processors, may cause the one or more processors to determine athreat assessment level, of a set of threat assessment levels, for thesecurity situation based on the information regarding the securitysituation. Each threat assessment level, of the set of threat assessmentlevels, may be associated with a set of threshold criteria and a set ofresponse actions. The one or more instructions, when executed by the oneor more processors, may cause the one or more processors to cause one ormore response actions, associated with the threat assessment level, tobe performed based on the security situation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example environment in which systems and/ormethods, described herein, may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a hub-and-spoke development environment relatingto a cloud network shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a set of security level zones relating to theexample environment shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of an example of a multi-layer securityarchitecture with firewalled portions of a virtual network relating tothe example environment shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of another example of a multi-layersecurity architecture with firewalled portions of a virtual networkrelating to the example environment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of yet another example of a multi-layer securityarchitecture with firewalled portions of a virtual network;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of example components of one or more devices and/orcomputing resources described herein;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an example process for performing a securityassessment; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an example of threat assessment levels relatingto the example process shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram of an example implementation relating to theexample process shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of example implementations refers tothe accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in differentdrawings may identify the same or similar elements.

A cloud-based computing platform may facilitate scalable allocation ofcomputing resources, such as processing resources, storage resources,routing resources, or the like. A user of the cloud-based computingplatform may request a first quantity of resources at a first time and asecond quantity of resources at a second time. Additionally, oralternatively, allocation of resources may occur automatically as afunctionality of the cloud-based computing platform and without the userbeing required to manually configure the allocation of resources. Thecloud-based computing platform may support a web platform (e.g., awebsite supported by a cloud-based platform), such as a web platformassociated with facilitating ordering and delivery of a food product oranother type of web platform.

However, a cloud-based platform may be subject to a malicious attack,such as an attempted information exfiltration from one or more datastructures storing private information (e.g., credit card information,user preference information, or the like), a distributed denial ofservice (DDOS) attack, or the like. Implementations, described herein,may leverage the multiple layers of security and cloud scaling toidentify a security situation, classify the security situation at aparticular threat assessment level, and utilize designated responseactions for the particular threat assessment level to mitigate themalicious attack. In this way, the cloud-based platform may facilitateimproved information security, reliability, or the like relative toanother computing platform that does not utilize multiple layers ofsecurity and cloud scaling to manage a security situation. Moreover, thecloud-based platform may facilitate reduced response time and right sizestaffing by dynamically establishing response teams for a securitysituation and utilizing pre-defined assessment levels relative toanother computing platform that does not utilize pre-defined assessmentlevels.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example environment 100 in which systemsand/or methods, described herein, may be implemented. As shown in FIG.1, environment 100 may include a service provider network 110, a cloudnetwork 120 (e.g., a first cloud-based network of computing resources),a cloud network 130 (e.g., a second cloud-based network of computingresources), a franchisor data center 140, a franchisee data center 150,an operator data center 160, an operator core network 170, and anoperator core data center 180. Devices of environment 100 mayinterconnect via wired connections, wireless connections, or acombination of wired and wireless connections. In some implementations,cloud network 120 and cloud network 130 may operate a web platform(e.g., an ecommerce platform for food delivery services) and serviceprovider network 110, franchisor data center 140, franchisee data center150, operator data center 160, operator core network 170, and operatorcore data center 180 may, collectively, perform one or more functionsassociated with operating cloud network 120 and cloud network 130.

Service provider network 110 may include one or more wired and/orwireless networks. For example, service provider network 110 may includea cellular network (e.g., a long-term evolution (LTE) network, a thirdgeneration (3G) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network,etc.), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a local area network (LAN),a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), atelephone network (e.g., the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)),a private network, an ad hoc network, an intranet, the Internet, a fiberoptic-based network, a cloud computing network, an enterprise network,or the like, and/or a combination of these or other types of networks.In some implementations, service provider network 110 may include abackbone network, such as a backbone network of a telecom serviceprovider, an internet service provider, or the like. For example,service provider network 110 may include an Internetprotocol/multiprotocol label switching (IP/MPLS) backbone networkassociated with providing interconnectivity to multiple sub-networks,data centers, or the like.

Cloud network 120 and/or another cloud network described herein (e.g.,cloud network 130 or the like) may include a cloud-based computingplatform providing one or more computing resources, such as a MicrosoftAzure cloud, an Amazon web services (Amazon AWS) cloud, or the like. Forexample, cloud network 120 may include one or more servers, routers,gateways, switches, hubs, data storage units, or the like assignable forone or more functionalities of a web platform. In some implementations,cloud network 120 may facilitate scaling of computing resources. Forexample, cloud network 120 may assign a first quantity of computingresources for processing user requests for food delivery at a first timeand a second quantity of computing resources for processing userrequests for food delivery at a second time based, respectively, oncomputing resource demand at the first time and the second time. In someimplementations, cloud network 120 may include a set of virtualnetworks. A virtual network may include a set of computing resourcesconceptually grouped with a set of virtualized network links. Forexample, the virtual network may include a set of virtual machines, aset of virtual firewalls, or the like that are connected via one or morevirtual network links.

In some implementations, cloud network 120 may include a set of servers,gateways, firewall devices, or the like. For example, cloud network 120may include a set of physical servers providing assignable computingresources, a set of virtualized servers representing the assignablecomputing resources, or the like. A server, as described herein, mayrefer to a physical server that is associated with cloud network 120, avirtualized server (e.g., a conceptual representation of computingresources that are at least partially implemented in hardware and areallocated by cloud network 120 for a particular functionality), or thelike. In some implementations, a server may represent a group ofservers. For example, although a production virtual network (describedherein) may be described as including a customer portal server, theproduction virtual network may include a group of customer portalservers (e.g., 5 servers, 10 servers, 20 servers, or the like) that maybe scaled based on demand for access to the customer portal. Similarly,a gateway device may refer to a physical gateway device, a virtualizedgateway device (e.g., a set of computing resources that are at leastpartially implemented in hardware and are assigned to perform one ormore functionalities of a gateway device), or the like. In other words,a virtual network may be assigned a set of computing resources, whichmay be conceptually described as servers, gateways, firewalls, or thelike.

Cloud network 120 may include, in the set of virtual networks, a buildvirtual network, in some implementations. For example, cloud network 120may designate a portion of computing resources (e.g., “Servers 1-A”) asallocated for functionalities of the build virtual network. Similarly,cloud network 120 may include a development (“Dev”) virtual network, aquality assurance testing (QAT) virtual network, and an end to endtesting (E2E) virtual network with portions of computing resourcesallocated thereto (e.g., servers “1-B,” “1-C,” and “1-D,” respectively).Similarly, cloud network 120 may include a staging virtual network(e.g., with computing resources, “Servers 1-E”), a production virtualnetwork (e.g., with computing resources, “Servers 1-F”), a utilityvirtual network (e.g., with computing resources, “Servers 1-G”), and agateway device (e.g., a quantity of computing resources allocated forperforming network gateway functions). In some implementations, cloudnetwork 120 may include a resource allocation management deviceassociated with dynamically scaling computing resources of one or moreportions of cloud network 120. For example, cloud network 120 mayutilize a scaling controller (e.g., a resource allocation managementdevice that selectively allocates and/or reallocates computingresources) to assign a quantity of computing resources to a portion ofcloud network 120.

Cloud network 130 may include a set of virtual networks, in someimplementations. For example, cloud network 130 may include a utilityvirtual network (e.g., with computing resources, “Servers 1-H”), astaging virtual network (e.g., with computing resources, “Servers 1-I”),a production virtual network (e.g., with computing resources, “Servers1-J”), and a gateway device. Collectively, cloud network 120 and cloudnetwork 130 (and/or one or more other, similar cloud networks) maysupport a web platform, such as an end to end ecommerce platform forfood delivery, in some implementations. For example, cloud network 120and cloud network 130 may facilitate order processing, storeadministration, inventory management, or the like.

Some virtual networks of cloud network 120 may correspond to othervirtual networks of cloud network 130. For example, a first productionvirtual network of cloud network 120 may correspond to a secondproduction virtual network of cloud network 130. In this case, networktraffic may be routed to one of the first production virtual network orthe second production virtual network based on a set of load balancingcriteria, a set of backup criteria, a set of geographic criteria, or thelike. For example, cloud network 120 may be established for managingnetwork traffic associated with the East Coast of the United States,cloud network 130 may be established for managing network trafficassociated with the West Coast of the United States, and one or moreother cloud networks may be established for managing other networktraffic, as backup cloud networks, or the like. In this way, cloudnetwork 120 and cloud network 130 may increase web platform robustnessrelative to a single cloud network based on facilitating redundancy ofvirtual networks.

Additionally, or alternatively, some virtual networks of cloud network120 may not correspond to other virtual networks of cloud network 130.For example, testing operations may be designated as non-criticaloperations (e.g., if one or more computing resources associated withperforming program code testing are unavailable, operation of the webplatform may remain unaffected for customers). In this case, testingoperations may be performed in cloud network 120 utilizing thedevelopment, QAT, and E2E virtual networks and corresponding virtualnetworks may not be established in cloud network 130. In this way,resource allocation is reduced (e.g., by not duplicating testingoperations) and program code continuity may be improved (e.g., byreducing a likelihood of discontinuity resulting from testing operationsbeing performed in multiple different environments without centralizedcontrol) relative to a configuration that duplicates testing operationsacross each cloud network. The set of virtual networks are described inadditional detail with regard to FIGS. 2 through 7.

Franchisor data center 140 may include one or more data centers operatedby a franchisor. For example, franchisor data center 140 may include agateway device, a set of computing resources (e.g., “Servers 1-K”), anda set of store devices (e.g., “Store Devices 1-L”). The set of storedevices may refer to one or more devices (e.g., point of sale (POS)devices) associated with receiving an order for food delivery from astore location, generating pricing information for the order, assigningthe order for fulfillment by the store location (e.g., adding items ofthe order to a preparation queue), or the like. In some implementations,the set of store devices may include multiple types of store devicesassociated with multiple information formats. For example, a first storelocation may utilize a first type of store device and a second storelocation may utilize a second type of store device. In this case, one ormore portions of cloud network 120, cloud network 130, or the like maybe designated for altering an order, received via a web platform, to aformat associated with a particular store device associated with a storelocation assigned for fulfilling the order.

Franchisee data center 150 may include one or more data centers operatedby a franchisee of the franchisor. For example, a commercial entityseparate from the franchisor may operate a set of store locations as afranchisee of the franchisor, and may operate a data center with a setof computing resources (e.g., a gateway device, a set of servers “1-M,”a set of store devices “1-N,” etc.), separated from franchisor datacenter 140, for managing store operations, order allocation, or thelike, but may utilize the same web platform as the franchisor (and/orone or more franchisees thereof that lack a separate data center). Inthis case, one or more computing resources of franchisee data center 150may provide information to the web platform (e.g., via cloud network120, cloud network 130, etc.), receive information from the webplatform, or the like.

Operator data center 160 may include one or more data centers operatedby an operator of the web platform. For example, the franchisor maycontract with the operator to provide services for the web platformrelating to operation, such as security services, maintenance services,program code generation, testing, and updating services, or the like. Inthis case, the operator may utilize an operator data center with a setof gateway devices, a set of computing resources (e.g., “Servers 1-O”),or the like to perform one or more functionalities associated withoperating the web platform of cloud network 120, cloud network 130, orthe like.

Operator core network 170 include one or more wired and/or wirelessnetworks. For example, operator core network 170 may include a cellularnetwork, a PLMN, a LAN, a WAN, a MAN, a telephone network, a privatenetwork, an ad hoc network, an intranet, the Internet, a fiberoptic-based network, a cloud computing network, an enterprise network,or the like, and/or a combination of these or other types of networks.In some implementations, operator core network 170 may facilitateconnectivity between one or more computing resources of operator datacenter 160 and one or more computing resources of operator core datacenter 180.

Operator core data center 180 may include one or more data centersoperated by the operator of the web platform. For example, the operatormay utilize a set of operator data centers 160 that communicate directlywith cloud network 120, cloud network 130, or the like and a set ofoperator core data centers 180 that provide backend services foroperator data centers 160. In some implementations, operator core datacenter 180 may include a set of computing resources (e.g., a gatewaydevice, “Servers 1-P,” or the like).

In this way, environment 100 may utilize cloud networks, allocated intogroups of virtual networks, to facilitate multi-layer security within avirtual network (e.g., by utilizing cloud scalability functionalities tooperate layers of security that could require an infeasible quantity ofresources if the resources were allocated in a fixed manner), securitydesigned hub-and-spoke configured virtual networks for program codetesting and implementation operations (e.g., by utilizing cloudscalability functionalities to separate testing and implementationoperations into multiple separated virtual networks that are allocatedresources in a scaling manner), and security operations (e.g., byutilizing virtualization to reallocate and reconfigure portions ofenvironment 100 on an as-needed basis to respond to securitysituations).

The number and arrangement of devices, computing resources, and networksshown in FIG. 1 are provided as an example. In practice, there may beadditional devices, computing resources, and/or networks, fewer devices,computing resources, and/or networks, different devices, computingresources, and/or networks, or differently arranged devices, computingresources, and/or networks than those shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, twoor more devices and/or computing resources shown in FIG. 1 may beimplemented within a single device or computer resource allocation, or asingle device and/or computing resource allocation shown in FIG. 2 maybe implemented as multiple, distributed devices and/or computingresources. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., oneor more devices) and/or computing resources of environment 100 mayperform one or more functions described as being performed by anotherset of devices and/or computing resources of environment 100.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of virtual networks of cloud network120 of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows an example of a hub-and-spoke developmentenvironment.

As shown in FIG. 2, cloud network 120 may include a gateway device 205that facilitates a direct connection to cloud network 120. For example,a server of operator data center 160 may utilize a direct connectionassociated with gateway device 205 to access, control, and/or utilizecomputing resources of cloud network 120 (e.g., a Microsoft AzureExpressRoute connection, an Amazon AWS Direct Connect connection, etc.).In some implementations, gateway device 205 may include an MPLS gatewaydevice, a virtualized gateway device, or the like.

As shown, cloud network 120 may include a build virtual network 210,which may connect to development virtual network 215 (e.g., a group ofdevelopment servers), QAT virtual network 220 (e.g., a group of QATservers), E2E virtual network 225 (e.g., a group of E2E testingservers), staging virtual network 230 (e.g., a group of stagingservers), and/or production virtual network 235 (e.g., a group ofproduction servers). In some implementations, development virtualnetwork 215, QAT virtual network 220, and/or E2E virtual network 225 maybe configured as different virtual networks. Additionally, oralternatively, development virtual network 215, QAT virtual network 220,and/or E2E virtual network 225 may be configured as portions of the samevirtual network, such as sub-virtual networks, computing resourcegroups, or the like.

As further shown in FIG. 2, build virtual network 210 may facilitatedevelopment of a web platform using a hub-and-spoke developmentenvironment. For example, when a developer generates program code forutilization in the web platform, the program code is provided to a buildserver of build virtual network 210. In some implementations, buildvirtual network 120 may progress a development update through multipledifferent stages of development of the hub-and-spoke developmentenvironment. For example, build virtual network 210 may provide adevelopment update (e.g., a program code for altering the web platform)to development virtual network 215 as a first stage of development, mayreceive information indicating that a set of testing criteria ofdevelopment virtual network 215 are satisfied by the development update,and may provide the development update to QAT virtual network 220 as asecond stage of development. Similarly, build virtual network 210 mayprovide the development update as a first stage of development tostaging virtual network 230, and may subsequently provide thedevelopment update as a second stage of development to productionvirtual network 235.

In some implementations, the build server may store the program code,perform authentication of the program code (e.g., determine that theuser is authorized to provide the program code for the web platform),perform version control on the program code, perform documentation ofthe program code, perform security scanning of the program code (e.g.,determining that the program code lacks malicious code), or the like. Insome implementations, build virtual network 210 may facilitateestablishment of a virtual machine with which a user may controlauthentication of the program code, version control of the program code,or the like.

In some implementations, cloud network 120 may scale computing resourcesto facilitate performing authentication of the program code, versioncontrol of the program code, or the like. For example, when the programcode is provided for scanning, cloud network 120 may allocate a firstquantity of computing resources to build virtual network 210 to performscanning and when scanning is completed, cloud network 120 may assign asecond quantity of computing resources to build virtual network 210.Additionally, or alternatively, a scaling controller of cloud network120 may scale computing resources to facilitate performing one or moretests on a development update (e.g., on the program code). For example,when development virtual network 215 is directed to perform one or moretests on the program code, the scaling controller may allocate a firstquantity of computing resources to development virtual network 215 andwhen development virtual network 215 has competed the one or more tests,the scaling controller may allocate a second quantity of computingresources, to development virtual network 215, that is less than thefirst quantity of computing resources.

Based on separating the functionalities of program code testing intomultiple different virtual networks, cloud network 120 may increasesecurity of program code testing relative to performing testing on asingle computing device, however, establishing multiple differentvirtual networks may be resource intensive. Based on utilizingcloud-based scaling of computing resources, cloud network 120 mayachieve security benefits associated with separating program codetesting into multiple different virtual networks and reduce resourceallocation, by allocating computing resources to each virtual network onan as-needed basis relative to allocating resources to each virtualnetwork on a fixed basis.

As shown by reference number 240, the build server may provide a copy ofthe program code to a development server of development virtual network215 (e.g., via a virtualized network link). In some implementations, thedevelopment server may perform one or more tests on the program code.For example, the development server may utilize a set of use cases totest the program code and determine whether the program code performs asintended. Further to the example, the development server determines thatthe program code fails the set of use cases. In this case, assume thedevelopment server may provide information associated with failing adevelopment test (e.g., a test associated with the set of use cases),such as information identifying a portion of the program code associatedwith the failure, information identifying a module associated with thefailure, information identifying the set of use cases, or the like.Further to the example, the development server may provide informationto the build server associated with causing the program code to berejected. In this case, the program code may be replaced by otherprogram code for testing via development virtual network 215. As anotherexample, the development server may determine that the program codepassed the set of use cases, and may provide information, to the buildserver, indicating that the program code passed the set of use cases, asshown by reference number 245.

Based on receiving information indicating that the program code passedthe set of use cases and/or one or more testing criteria of developmentvirtual network 215, the build server of build virtual network 210 maygenerate information associated with the program code, in someimplementations. For example, the build server may provide informationindicating that the program code passed the set of use cases and mayupdate information associated with tracking a development lifecycle ofthe program code. In this case, the build server may cause theinformation to be provided to a client device being operated by adeveloper managing program code testing, a data structure tracking thedevelopment lifecycle of the program code, or the like. As shown byreference number 250, the build server may provide the program code to aQAT server of QAT virtual network 220 based on receiving informationindicating that the program code passed the set of use cases ofdevelopment virtual network 215.

In some implementations, the QAT server may perform QAT testing on theprogram code. For example, the QAT server may perform unit testing onthe program code, static code analysis, data flow analysis, metricsanalysis, code coverage analysis, and/or another type of program codetesting. As an example, the QAT server may determine that the programcode does not pass on or more QAT tests, and may cause the program codeto be rejected by the build server. In this case, when other programcode is generated to replace the program code, the build server mayperform version control on the program code and the other program code,and may cause the other program code to be provided for testing viadevelopment virtual network 215. As another example, the QAT server maydetermine that the program code passed QAT testing. In this case, theQAT server may provide, to the build server of build virtual network210, information associated with indicating that the program code passedthe QAT testing, such as testing results or the like, as shown byreference number 255.

Based on receiving information indicating that the program code passedthe QAT testing and/or one or more testing criteria associated with QATvirtual network 220, the build server of build virtual network 210 maygenerate information associated with the program code, in someimplementations. For example, the build server may provide information,to the client device utilized by the developer, indicating that theprogram code passed the QAT testing. Additionally, or alternatively, thebuild server may provide information associated with comparing theprogram code to other program code based on the QAT testing. As shown byreference number 260, the build server may provide the program code toan E2E server of E2E virtual network 225 based on receiving informationindicating that the program code passed the QAT testing.

In some implementations, the E2E server may perform E2E testing on theprogram code. For example, the E2E server may perform one or more testsassociated with determining whether the program code integrates properlywith one or more other modules of the web platform (e.g., integrationwith a Hybris data hub, integration with an Apigee applicationprogramming interface (API), or the like). Additionally, oralternatively, the E2E server may determine whether the program codeintegrates with one or more data structures, one or more networkconnections, or the like.

In some implementations, the E2E server may determine that that theprogram code does not pass one or more E2E tests. For example, the E2Eserver may determine that the program code does not integrate properlywith a server associated with the web platform, and may provideinformation to the build server of build virtual network 210 indicatingthat the program code does not pass the E2E testing. In this case, thebuild server may perform version control, provide information regardingthe E2E testing, or the like. When build virtual network 210 receives asubsequent version of the program code, the build server may process thesubsequent version and provide the processed subsequent version todevelopment virtual network 125, as described above in connection withreference number 240. In some implementations, the E2E server maydetermine that the program code passes the E2E testing. For example, theE2E server may determine that the program code properly integrates withthe server associated with the web platform. In this case, the E2Eserver may provide, to the build server of build virtual network 210,information associated with indicating that the program code passed theE2E testing, such as testing results or the like, as shown by referencenumber 265.

Based on receiving information indicating that the program code passedthe E2E testing, the build server of build virtual network 210 maygenerate information associated with the program code, in someimplementations. For example, the build server may provide information,to the client device utilized by the developer, indicating that theprogram code passed the E2E testing, may update information associatedwith tracking the development lifecycle of the program code, may performversion management for the program code, or the like. Based on theprogram code passing the E2E testing (e.g., satisfying one or morecriteria of E2E virtual network 225), the build server may provide theprogram code to a staging server of staging virtual network 230, asshown by reference number 270.

In some implementations, the staging server may facilitatepre-production evaluation of program code, such as by testingincorporation of the program code into a module that is utilized inproduction virtual network 235. For example, staging virtual network 230may correspond to and/or resemble production virtual network 235 (e.g.,a virtual network associated with the web platform), and the stagingserver may execute the program code to determine whether the programcode will operate as intended when utilized by the module in productionvirtual network 235. In some implementations, the staging server mayperform a set of pre-production tests on the program code. For example,the staging server may facilitate user experience testing, useracceptance testing, compatibility testing (e.g., determining whether theprogram code is compatible with hardware and/or software configurationsof production virtual network 235), or the like.

In some implementations, the staging server may provide, to a buildserver of build virtual network 210, information indicating that theprogram code does not pass a set of pre-production tests. For example,the staging server may indicate that the program code caused undesiredbehaviors in a version of the web platform associated with stagingvirtual network 230 corresponding to and/or resembling the web platformassociated with production virtual network 235. In this case, the buildserver may cause other program code to be provided for testing viadevelopment virtual network 215 as a potential replacement for theprogram code. In some implementations, the staging server may provideinformation indicating that the program code passed the set ofpre-production tests. For example, the staging server may provideinformation indicating that the program code satisfies a set of userexperience thresholds, a set of performance threshold, or the like, asshown by reference number 275.

Based on receiving information indicating that the program code passedthe set of pre-production tests and/or satisfied one or more testingcriteria associated with staging virtual network 230, the build serverof build virtual network 210 may generate information associated withthe program code, in some implementations. For example, the build servermay provide information, to the client device utilized by the developer,indicating that the program code passed the set of pre-production tests,may update information associated with tracking the developmentlifecycle of the program code, may perform version management for theprogram code, or the like. In some implementations, the build server maycause the program code to be scheduled for integration into productionvirtual network 235 (e.g., to the web platform associated withproduction virtual network 235). For example, the build server may addthe program code to a scheduled update, may provide informationindicating that the program code is in a condition that is ready forrelease, or the like.

As shown by reference number 280, based on the program code passingtests associated with development virtual network 215, QAT virtualnetwork 220, E2E virtual network 225, and staging virtual network 230,build virtual network 210 may cause the program code to be provided to aproduction server of production virtual network 235 for utilization withthe web platform. For example, the build server may cause a portion ofthe web platform to be adjusted to integrate the program code.

If at any stage, build virtual network 210 receives informationindicating that the program code has not passed a set of tests and buildvirtual network 210 receives a subsequent version of the program code,the build server may process the subsequent version of the program codeand provide the processed subsequent version of the program code todevelopment virtual network 215. In this way, build virtual network 210may ensure that a subsequent version of the program code has not beenaltered in a way that causes the subsequent version to fail the set oftests and/or another set of tests that are intended to be performed onprogram code.

In this way, a build virtual network may utilize a hub-and-spokeconfiguration to facilitate development, testing, and integration ofprogram code for a web platform. By centralizing administration of thedevelopment, testing, and integration of the program code with the buildvirtual network, the build virtual network may facilitate improvedauthentication of program code, reduced likelihood of misuse ormisrepresentation of program code, improved version control for theprogram code, improved documentation of the program code, improvedsecurity scanning for the program code, or the like relative to anon-centralized environment. By utilizing different virtual networks foreach phase of testing, the build virtual network may reduce, relative toa single testing environment, a likelihood of malicious alteration of atesting environment to cause malicious program code to pass tests of thetesting environment.

As indicated above, FIG. 2 is provided merely as an example. Otherexamples are possible and may differ from what was described with regardto FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example implementation 300 illustrating a setof security level zones relating to the example environment shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, a conceptual illustration of portions of exampleenvironment 100 may include a first security level zone 310 and a secondsecurity level zone 320. A security level zone may refer to a zone(e.g., a conceptual representation of a set of portions of cloud network120, cloud network 130, or the like) satisfying a particular level ofsecurity. For example, first security level zone 310 may includeportions of cloud network 120 satisfying compliance with payment cardindustry data security standard (PCI compliance), compliance withpersonally identifiable information data security standard (PIIcompliance), or the like and second security level zone 320 may includeportions of cloud network 120 not satisfying PCI compliance, PIIcompliance, or the like.

In some implementations, first security level zone 310 may include buildvirtual network 210, staging virtual network 230, production virtualnetwork 235, a utility virtual network 330 (e.g., a virtual networkproviding one or more functionalities for one or more other virtualnetworks, such as providing a set of security utilities, a codedocumentation utility, or the like), and a gateway device 340. Forexample, each of build virtual network 210, staging virtual network 230,production virtual network 235, utility virtual network 330, and gatewaydevice 340 may be configured to be PCI compliant. In someimplementations, second security level zone 320 may include developmentvirtual network 215, QAT virtual network 220, E2E virtual network 225,and a gateway device 350. For example, each of development virtualnetwork 215, QAT virtual network 220, E2E virtual network 225, andgateway device 350 may be configured without PCI compliance.

Utility virtual network 330 may refer to a virtual network (e.g., ofcloud network 120, cloud network 130, or the like) associated withproviding utilities for one or more other virtual networks. For example,utility virtual network 330 may include a set of tools, such as asecurity tool (e.g., a malicious file scanning tool, a file integritymonitoring tool, a logging tool, or the like), that may be utilized bycomputing resources of one or more other portions of cloud network 120.In this case, a server of a portion of production virtual network 235may utilize a malicious file scanning tool of utility virtual network330 to determine whether a received file is a malicious file.

In some implementations, cloud network 120 may allocate a quantity ofcomputing resources to utility virtual network 330 for a terminalservices module that provides remote computer and virtual machinecontrol to a remote user, such as a developer operating a client deviceof operator data center 160 or the like. In some implementations, theterminal services module may be associated with a firewall. For example,the terminal services module may be associated with a network securitygroup (NSG) firewall (e.g., a top level object associated with a set ofaccess control rules) utilized to determine whether to allow traffic toa virtual machine, such as the terminal services module. In someimplementations, utility virtual network 330 may be designated for PCIcompliance based on utilization of tools of utility virtual network 330by multiple virtual networks that are PCI compliant. In this way, cloudnetwork 120 may avoid an exploit of utility virtual network 330 beingutilized to gain access to PCI information of a PCI compliant virtualnetwork.

In some implementations, first security level zone 310 may utilize adifferent authorization compared with second security level zone 320.For example, gateway device 340 may utilize multi-factor authentication,such as two or more of a knowledge security element (e.g., a password, apersonal identification number, an answer to a security question), apossession security element (e.g., a security token), a user securityelement (e.g., a fingerprint identification, a retina identification, avoice identification), or the like. By contrast, gateway device 350 mayutilize single-factor authentication. In this way, first security levelzone 310 may provide a higher level of security for virtual networksassociated therewith than second security level zone 320. Providing ahigher level of security may be more resource intensive, less flexible,or the like relative to a lower level of security. Cloud network 120and/or cloud network 130 may utilize the higher level of security forvirtual networks associated with the web platform to avoid inadvertentdisclosure of customer data, malicious alteration to the web platform,or the like, thereby resulting in an enhanced security conditionrelative to a non-PCI compliant web platform. Moreover, cloud network120 and/or cloud network 130 may utilize the lower level of security fortesting environments, thereby, relative to requiring PCI compliance fortesting environments, reducing resource allocation and increasingflexibility for testing environments, in which security information isless likely to be located and with which customers do not interact.

In some implementations, first security level zone 310 (e.g., portion ofcloud network 120 conceptually represented as included in first securitylevel zone 310) may receive traffic from network 360 (e.g., Internettraffic from a customer utilizing user device 370 to place an order withproduction virtual network 235 via the web platform), such as an orderfor food delivery via a food delivery web platform or another type ofproduct delivery via another type of web platform. User device 370 mayinclude one or more devices, such as a mobile phone, a computer, a videogame console, or another type of device that may be utilized to access aweb platform. Additionally, or alternatively, first security level zone310 may receive traffic from service provider network 110 via gatewaydevice 340 (e.g., a terminal services device receiving virtual privatenetwork traffic from a developer associated with franchisor data center140, franchisee data center 150, and/or operator data center 160).

In some implementations, second security level zone 320 may receivetraffic from service provider network 110 and from first security levelzone 310 (e.g., program code promoted from build virtual network 210,utility functionalities from utility virtual network 315, or the like).For example, program code may be promoted from build virtual network 210to development virtual network 215, QAT virtual network 220, and/or E2Evirtual network 225. In this case, second security level zone 320 mayserve as a sandbox environment for a set of developers to test programcode without granting administrative access to virtual networks of firstsecurity level zone 310 that may include sensitive user informationand/or access to critical resources of the web platform. Moreover,second security level zone 320 does not receive traffic from network360, thereby facilitating the lessened security requirements relative tofirst security level zone 310, which does receive traffic from network360.

In this way, a cloud network may improve web platform management for amulti-developer organizations by providing improved information securityand by reducing a likelihood of malicious or inadvertent errors beingpropagated to the web platform relative to a cloud network that does notimplement PCI compliance for virtual networks. Moreover, the cloudnetwork may improve web platform management by providing improvedflexibility regarding granting access for program code testing relativeto a cloud network that implements PCI compliance for all virtualnetworks.

As indicated above, FIG. 3 is provided merely as an example. Otherexamples are possible and may differ from what was described with regardto FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of an example implementation 400 relatingto example environment 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 4A and 4B show anexample of a multi-layer security architecture with firewalled portionsof a virtual network.

As shown in FIG. 4A, cloud network 120 may include production virtualnetwork 235, a utility virtual network 330, and a gateway device 402.Production virtual network 235 may include a web application firewall(WAF) portion 404, a group of firewall 406-1 through 406-4, a webportion 408 (e.g., a web server portion of production virtual network235), an application (“app”) portion 410 (e.g., an application serverportion of production virtual network 235), a database portion 412(e.g., a database server portion of production virtual network 235), andan active directory portion 414. Cloud network 120 may connect, viagateway device 402, to network 360 and service provider network 110.Portions of production virtual network 235 may integrate security toolsof utility virtual network 330, which may be conceptually representedand/or instantiated as a utility portion of production virtual network235. In some implementations, production virtual network 235 may includea scaling controller associated with allocating computing resources toportions of production virtual network 235, a routing device associatedwith causing information to be routed between portions of productionvirtual network 235, or the like.

Gateway device 402 may include one or more gateway devices associatedwith providing traffic routing for production virtual network 235. Forexample, gateway device 402 may receive virtual private network (VPN)traffic from operator data center 160 (e.g., via service providernetwork 110) and may route the VPN traffic to a terminal services deviceof utility virtual network 330. Additionally, or alternatively, gatewaydevice 402 may receive traffic from network 360 (e.g., web traffic),operator data center 160, franchisor data center 140, or the like andmay route the traffic to a portion of cloud network 120 (e.g., webportion 408).

WAF portion 404 may include one or more devices associated withproviding firewalling for production virtual network 235. For example,WAF portion 404 may include a virtual network (e.g., a sub-virtualnetwork of production virtual network 235) that may receive networktraffic from gateway device 402, and may apply a security filter. Inthis way, WAF portion 404 may reduce a likelihood of a cross-sitescripting (XSS) attack, a structured query language (SQL) injectionattack, or the like. Based on the traffic satisfying the filter and/orone or more traffic routing criteria of WAF portion 404, the traffic maybe routed, via firewall 406-1, to web portion 408, as described indetail with regard to FIG. 4B. In some implementations, WAF portion 404may perform reverse proxying for user device 370 or the like. Forexample, when user device 370 attempts to establish a connection, viaWAF portion 404, to a customer portal of web portion 408, WAF portion404 may establish a first connection with user device 370 and a secondseparate connection with web portion 408, thereby preventing user device370 from direct access to web portion 408. In this way, WAF portion 404may provide a layer of security for the web platform. By utilizingcloud-based scaling, cloud network 120 may provide the layer of securityon an as needed basis, thereby reducing a resource allocation relativeto a fixed allocation for a WAF.

Firewall 406 (hereinafter referred to collectively as “firewalls 406,”and individually as “firewall 406”) may refer to a firewall associatedwith providing a layer of security for cloud network 120. For example,firewall 406 may include a network security group (NSG) based firewallassociated with managing access between computing resources of portionsof cloud network 120. For example, when user device 370 providesinformation identifying an order for food delivery via WAF portion 404(e.g., based on satisfying one or more security criteria of WAF portion404), firewall 406-1 may provide one or more firewall-based filters onthe connection established between WAF portion 404 and web portion 408.Similarly, when a server of web portion 408 intends to accessinformation of a server of application portion 410, firewall 406-2 mayapply one or more filtering rules to a request for information. In someimplementations, firewall 406 may include a virtualized firewall. Forexample, cloud network 120 may allocate resources to firewalls 406 on anas needed basis, thereby reducing a resource allocation requirement perfirewall than a fixed allocation. Moreover, based on reducing theresource allocation requirement per firewall, cloud network 120 mayimplement more firewalls for separation portions of cloud network 120than a similar cloud network that is associated with a greater resourceallocation requirement per firewall.

Web portion 408 may refer to a portion of cloud network 120 associatedwith providing information for display via a web platform and/orreceiving information from the web platform. For example, a user mayrequest information from cloud network 120 via a web platform byproviding a user request to web portion 408, as described herein withregard to FIG. 4B.

Application portion 410 may refer to a portion of cloud network 120associated with providing application services for the web platform. Forexample, when web portion 408 receives an order for a food productdelivery, web portion 408 may provide the order to application portion410 for processing, as described herein with regard to FIG. 4B.

Database portion 412 may refer to a portion of cloud network 120associated with providing information from a database for the webplatform. For example, when application portion 410 is processing theorder for the food product delivery, application server 410 may requestinformation (e.g., user identification information, credit cardinformation, or the like from database portion 414 via a databaserequest, and database portion 410 may provide the requested information,as described herein with regard to FIG. 4B.

Active directory portion 414 may refer to a portion of cloud network 120associated with providing directory services, authentication, and/orauthorization for users of cloud network 120. For example, cloud network120 may allocate a quantity of computing resources to an activedirectory domain controller of active directory portion 414. Activedirectory portion 414 may provide another layer of security for cloudnetwork 120, in some implementations. For example, active directoryportion 414 may ensure that administrative users (e.g., one or moreusers of operator data center 160) are only granted access to assignedportions of cloud network 120. In this case, active directory portion414 may receive an access request from a user and perform authenticationof the access request to determine whether to grant access (e.g., to aportion of production virtual network 235) to the user.

As shown in FIG. 4B, web portion 408, application portion 410, anddatabase portion 412 may include firewall devices 440-1, 440-2, and440-3, respectively. A firewall device 440 may correspond to a firewall406, may include an interface with a firewall 406, or may include adevice separate and/or different from a firewall 406. For example,firewall device 440 may include a virtualized firewall device allocatedas a computing resource of web portion 408 (e.g., firewall device440-1), application portion 410 (e.g., firewall device 440-2), databaseportion 412 (e.g., firewall device 440-3), or the like. Firewall device440 may provide a layer of security for a portion of cloud network 120.For example, when a connection is attempted to web portion 408, firewalldevice 440-1 may apply one or more filters and/or security techniquesassociated with ensuring that the connection is a not associated with amalicious purpose.

As further shown in FIG. 4B, web portion 408 may include a set of webservers 450 associated with one or more functionalities of the webplatform. For example, the set of web servers 450 may include a group ofstore administration (“admin”) servers 452 (e.g., 5 servers, 10 servers,20 servers, etc.) that provide a portal for utilization one or morefunctionalities of the web platform associated with storeadministration. Additionally, or alternatively, the set of web servers450 may include a group of back office servers 454 that provide a portalfor utilization of one or more back office functionalities of the webplatform, such as inventory information, payroll information, or thelike. Additionally, or alternatively, the set of web servers 450 mayinclude a group of customer portal servers 456 (e.g., one or more webservers) that provide a portal for utilization of one or more customerfunctionalities of the web platform. For example, user device 370 mayprovide web traffic (e.g., a request for delivery or take-out of aproduct, such as a food product) to customer portal servers 456 (e.g.,via WAF portion 404).

As further shown in FIG. 4B, application portion 410 may include a setof application (“app”) servers 460 associated with one or moreapplication services of an ecommerce application associated with the webplatform. For example, the set of application servers 460 may include agroup of customer portal servers 462 associated with providinginformation for customer portal servers 456. Additionally, oralternatively, the set of application servers 460 may include a group ofHybris servers 464 (e.g., data hub servers associated with facilitatingthe ecommerce application).

As further shown in FIG. 4B, database portion 412 may include a set ofdatabase (“DB”) servers 470 associated with providing information fromone or more data structures for the ecommerce application or the like.In some implementations, the set of database servers 470 may include agroup of SQL servers 472.

In some implementations, a server (e.g., a web server 450, anapplication server 460, a database server 470, or the like) may includeone or more security functionalities, such as endpoint protection,antivirus protection, local firewalling, data loss prevention, filemodification monitoring, or the like as a layer of security for theserver. For example, Hybris server 464 may operate antivirus protectionas an added layer of security to firewall device 440-2, firewall 406-2,or the like. In some implementations, the server may provide informationidentifying a detected malicious action (e.g., an attempted intrusion, adetected malicious file, etc.) for utilization in assessing a securitysituation as described with regard to FIGS. 8-10.

As further shown in FIG. 4B, and by reference number 480, web portion408 may receive a user request (e.g., from user device 370). Assume thatthe user request is for an order for food delivery. The user request isrouted (e.g., from WAF portion 404) to customer portal server 456 basedon address information (e.g., IP address information) indicating thatthe request is intended for customer portal server 456. Customer portalserver 456 may generate an application request 485 for Hybris server464. The application request is transmitted to Hybris server 464 (e.g.,via firewall 406-2 and firewall device 440-2). Hybris server 464 mayfulfill the request (e.g., by generating information for a store deviceof a store location that is intended to fulfill the order for fooddelivery). As shown by reference number 490, to fulfill the request,Hybris server 464 may generate a database request for information fromSQL server 472. The database request is transmitted to SQL server 472(e.g., via firewall 406-3 and firewall device 440-3), and SQL server 472may provide database information associated with fulfilling the request(e.g., user identification information, payment information, preferenceinformation, or the like).

In this way, production virtual network 235 is configured with layeredsecurity to reduce a likelihood of a security situation causing a harmto production virtual network 235 relative to non-layered security. Forexample, user device 370 is not permitted to directly access web portion408, rather WAF portion 404 establishes a reverse proxy connection toweb portion 408 based on receiving traffic from user device 370.Similarly, WAF portion 404 may lack permission to access applicationportion 410, rather WAF portion 404 may transmit information to webportion 408, which may transmit information to application portion 410.Similarly, application portion 410 may request information from databaseportion 412 to fulfill a request provided by web portion 408, withoutweb portion 408 having direct access to database portion 412.

Production virtual network 235 may utilize scalable computing resourcesto implement layered security. For example, a quantity of computingresources of production virtual network 235 (e.g., servers establishedfor web portion 408, application portion 410, database portion 412,firewalls 406-1, 406-2, 406-3, and 406-4, or the like) may be scaled tomeet demand, thereby facilitating comprehensive layered security withless resource allocation than may be required for a fixed allocation. Inthis way, cloud network 120 may reduce a likelihood of a securitysituation relative to another type of web platform using non-scalablecomputing resources that is, based on using non-scalable computingresources, unable to implement layered security as a result of excessivecosts to establish fixed computing resources.

As indicated above, FIGS. 4A and 4B are provided merely as an example.Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described withregard to FIGS. 4A and 4B.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of an example implementation 500 relatingto example environment 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 5A and 5B show anexample of a multi-layer security architecture with firewalled portionsof a virtual network.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an example of staging virtual network 230 of cloudnetwork 120. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, staging virtual network 230 isconfigured to correspond to and resemble production virtual network 235,thereby facilitating testing of an alteration to production virtualnetwork 235 (e.g., a new feature, new program code, or the like) priorto implementation of the alteration in production virtual network 235.Staging virtual network 230 is configured with PCI compliance, therebyfacilitating determination of whether the change operates as intended ina PCI compliant virtual network, such as production virtual network 235(testing prior to that which is conducted in staging virtual network 230may occur in a non-PCI compliant virtual network, such as developmentvirtual network 215, QAT virtual network 220, E2E virtual network 225,or the like).

For example, and with regard to FIG. 5A, gateway device 502 maycorrespond to gateway device 402, and may perform one or more similarfunctions. Similarly, WAF portion 504 may correspond to WAF portion 404,and may perform one or more similar functions. Similarly, firewalls506-1, 506-2, 506-3, and 506-4 may correspond to 406-1, 406-2, 406-3,and 406-4, respectively, and may, respectively, perform one or moresimilar functions. Similarly, web portion 508 may correspond to webportion 408, and may perform one or more similar functions. Similarly,application (“app”) portion 510 may correspond to application portion410, and may perform one or more similar functions. Similarly, databaseportion 512 may correspond to database portion 412, and may perform oneor more similar functions. Similarly, active directory portion 514 maycorrespond to active directory portion 414, and may perform one or moresimilar functions.

As another example, and with regard to FIG. 5B, firewall devices 540-1,540-2, and 540-3 may correspond to firewall devices 440-1, 440-2, and440-3, respectively, and may, respectively, perform one or more similarfunctions. Similarly, web servers 550 (e.g., store administration(“admin”) server 552, back office server 554, and customer portal server556) may correspond to web servers 440 (e.g., store administrationserver 452, back office server 454, and customer portal server 456), andmay perform one or more similar functions. Similarly, application(“app”) servers 560 (e.g., customer portal server 562 and Hybris server564) may correspond to application servers 460 (e.g., customer portalserver 462 and Hybris server 464), and may perform one or more similarfunctions. Similarly, database servers 570 (e.g., SQL server 572) maycorrespond to database servers 470 (e.g., SQL server 472), and mayperform one or more similar functions.

As another example, and with regard to FIG. 5B, web portion 508 mayreceive a user request 580 corresponding to user request 480, and maygenerate an application request 585 corresponding to application request485. Similarly, application portion 510 may receive the applicationrequest 585 and may generate database request 590 corresponding todatabase request 490. Similarly, database portion 512 may receivedatabase request 590 and may provide database information to fulfilldatabase request 590.

As indicated above, FIGS. 5A and 5B are provided merely as an example.Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described withregard to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example implementation 600 relating to exampleenvironment 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 shows an example of amulti-layer security architecture with firewalled portions of a virtualnetwork.

As shown in FIG. 6, cloud network 120 may include a development virtualnetwork 215, a QAT virtual network 220, and/or an E2E virtual network225, collectively referred to Development virtual networks 601.Development virtual networks 601 may include one or more portions and/orcomputing resources corresponding to production virtual network 235 ofFIGS. 4A and 4B, staging virtual network 504 of FIGS. 5A and 5B, or thelike. For example, development virtual networks 601 may include agateway device 602, a WAF portion 604, a set of firewalls 606, a webportion 608, a development portion 610, a QAT/E2E portion 612, an activedirectory portion 614, a set of firewall devices 640, or the like.

WAF portion 604 may include one or more devices associated withproviding firewalling for development virtual networks 601. For example,WAF portion 404 may include a virtual network (e.g., a sub-virtualnetwork of production virtual network 235) that may receive networktraffic from gateway device 402, and may apply a security filter, asdescribed herein with regard to WAF 404 of FIGS. 4A and 4B.

Active directory portion 614 may refer to a portion of cloud network 120associated with providing directory services, authentication, and/orauthorization for users of cloud network 120 and development virtualnetworks 601. For example, cloud network 120 may allocate a quantity ofcomputing resources to an active directory domain controller of activedirectory portion 614, as described herein with regard to activedirector portion 414 of FIGS. 4A and 4B.

As further shown in FIG. 6, web portion 608 may include a firewalldevice 640-1 and a set of web servers 650 (e.g., a group of QAT/E2Eservers 652, a group of development (“DEV”) servers 654, or the like).Development portion 610 may include a firewall device 640-2 and a set ofdevelopment servers 660 (e.g., a group of application servers 662, agroup of database servers 664, or the like). In some implementations,application servers 662 may be incorporated into an application servervirtual network and database servers 664 may be incorporated into adatabase virtual network, each of which are sub-virtual networks ofdevelopment portion 610. QAT/E2E portion 612 may include a firewalldevice 640-3 and a set of QAT/E2E servers 670 (e.g., a group ofapplication servers 672, a group of database servers 674, or the like).In some implementations, application servers 672 may be incorporatedinto an application server virtual network and database servers 674 maybe incorporated into a database virtual network, each of which aresub-virtual networks of QAT/E2E portion 618. In some implementations,QAT/E2E portion 612 may include a QAT sub-portion that includes a set ofapplication servers 672, a set of database servers 674, or the like andan E2E sub-portion that includes a set of application servers 672, a setof database servers 674, or the like.

As indicated above, FIGS. 6A and 6B are provided merely as an example.Other examples are possible and may differ from what was described withregard to FIGS. 6A and 6B.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of example components of a device 700. Device 700may correspond to one or more devices and/or computing resourcesdescribed herein (e.g., a device and/or a computing resource of FIGS.1-6, FIGS. 8-10, or the like). In some implementations, one or moredevices and/or computing resources described herein may include one ormore devices 700 and/or one or more components of device 700. As shownin FIG. 7, device 700 may include a bus 710, a processor 720, a memory730, a storage component 740, an input component 750, an outputcomponent 760, and a communication interface 770.

Bus 710 may include a component that permits communication among thecomponents of device 700. Processor 720 is implemented in hardware,firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. Processor 720 mayinclude a processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), etc.), amicroprocessor, and/or any processing component (e.g., afield-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), etc.) that can be programmed to perform a function.Memory 730 may include random access memory (RAM), a read only memory(ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device (e.g., aflash memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, etc.) that storesinformation and or instructions for use by processor 720.

Storage component 740 may store information and/or software related tothe operation and use of device 700. For example, storage component 740may include a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, amagneto-optic disk, a solid state disk, etc.), a compact disc (CD), adigital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetictape, and/or another type of computer-readable medium, along with acorresponding drive.

Input component 750 may include a component that permits device 700 toreceive information, such as via user input (e.g., a touch screendisplay, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, amicrophone, etc.). Additionally, or alternatively, input component 750may include a sensor for sensing information (e.g., a global positioningsystem (GPS) component, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an actuator,etc.). Output component 760 may include a component that provides outputinformation from device 700 (e.g., a display, a speaker, one or morelight-emitting diodes (LEDs), etc.).

Communication interface 770 may include a transceiver-like component(e.g., a transceiver, a separate receiver and transmitter, etc.) thatenables device 700 to communicate with other devices, such as via awired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired andwireless connections. Communication interface 770 may permit device 700to receive information from another device and/or provide information toanother device. For example, communication interface 770 may include anEthernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, aninfrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serialbus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a cellular network interface, orthe like.

Device 700 may perform one or more processes described herein. Device700 may perform these processes in response to processor 720 executingsoftware instructions stored by a computer-readable medium, such asmemory 730 and/or storage component 740. A computer-readable medium isdefined herein as a non-transitory memory device. A memory deviceincludes memory space within a single physical storage device or memoryspace spread across multiple physical storage devices.

Software instructions may be read into memory 730 and/or storagecomponent 740 from another computer-readable medium or from anotherdevice via communication interface 770. When executed, softwareinstructions stored in memory 730 and/or storage component 740 may causeprocessor 720 to perform one or more processes described herein.Additionally, or alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in placeof or in combination with software instructions to perform one or moreprocesses described herein. Thus, implementations described herein arenot limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry andsoftware.

The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 7 are provided asan example. In practice, device 700 may include additional components,fewer components, different components, or differently arrangedcomponents than those shown in FIG. 7. Additionally, or alternatively, aset of components (e.g., one or more components) of device 700 mayperform one or more functions described as being performed by anotherset of components of device 700.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an example process 800 for performing asecurity assessment. In some implementations, one or more process blocksof FIG. 8 may be performed by a security assessment device 165. In someimplementations, one or more process blocks of FIG. 8 may be performedby another device or a group of devices separate from or includingsecurity assessment device 165, such as one or more other devices and/orcomputing resources described herein (e.g., a device and/or a computingresource of FIGS. 1-6, FIGS. 9-10, or the like).

Security assessment device 165 may refer to one or more devicesassociated with performing a security assessment for a cloud network,one or more devices and/or computing resources of the cloud network, aweb platform associated with the cloud network, or the like. Forexample, security assessment device 165 may include a desktop computer,a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone (e.g., a smartphone, a radiotelephone, etc.), a server, or a similar type of device.In some implementations, security assessment device 165 may beassociated with a set of threat assessment levels, as described indetail with regards to FIG. 9. In some implementations, securityassessment device 165 may communicate with and/or control one or moredevices and/or computing resources described herein to obtaininformation regarding a security situation, monitor a securitysituation, remediate a security situation, perform a response action toa security situation, classify a security situation, assign one or moretasks to one or more users based on a security situation, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 8, process 800 may include obtaining informationregarding a security situation associated with a set of computingresources (block 810). For example, security assessment device 165 mayobtain information regarding the security situation. In someimplementations, security assessment device 165 may obtain theinformation regarding an ongoing security threat. Additionally, oralternatively, security assessment device 165 may obtain the informationregarding a potential security threat.

In some implementations, security assessment device 165 may determineinformation based on one or more layers of security associated with acloud-based web platform, such as a web platform associated with cloudnetwork 120 and cloud network 130. For example, a security assessmenttool (e.g., a malicious file detection tool, a malicious code injectiontool, or the like) associated with utility virtual network 330 may beutilized by a server of production virtual network 235 to analyzeincoming traffic, may determine that the incoming traffic is associatedwith a malicious purpose (e.g., a distributed denial of service (DDOS)attack, a malicious code injection attack, or the like). In this case,the server may provide, to security assessment device 165, informationassociated with analyzing the incoming traffic. In some implementations,security assessment device 165 may obtain the information from aparticular security assessment tool. For example, security assessmentdevice 165 may obtain information from a server of cloud network 120, aWAF of cloud network 120, a firewall of cloud network 120, or the likethat is executing security information and event management (SIEM)software, host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS) software, networkintrusion detection systems (NIDS) software, data loss preventionsecurity software, Tripwire security software, event logging software,system alarm software, or the like. Additionally, or alternatively,security assessment device 165 may receive information from a threatintelligence provider and/or an Internet resource, such as SymantecDeepSight, United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT),InfraGuard, the Internet Storm Center (ISC), or the like. For example,security assessment device 165 may receive information regarding anetwork traffic pattern, a malicious file, a type of malicious file, apatch for an exploit, a recovery path for an exploit, a threat of anattack (e.g., provided via a communication channel being monitored bythe threat intelligence provider and/or the Internet resource), or thelike.

In some implementations, security assessment device 165 may receiveinformation regarding a particular event. For example, securityassessment device 165 may receive information identifying an eventassociated with a risk of malicious attack (e.g., a new discount offeredvia the web platform, a news event related to a company associated withthe web platform, a world news event, a sports event, a holiday, or thelike). Additionally, or alternatively, security assessment device 165may receive information based on performing a targeted vulnerabilityassessment, such as information identifying an exploit associated withthe web platform. Additionally, or alternatively, security assessmentdevice 165 may receive information associated with an operationalincident, such as a server becoming deactivated, a new data centerassociated with the web platform, a public threat made regarding the webplatform, a detection of surveillance associated with the web platform,or the like.

As further shown in FIG. 8, process 800 may include determining a threatassessment level for the security situation (block 820). For example,security assessment device 165 may select a threat assessment level froma set of threat assessment levels. A threat assessment level may referto a classification of a security situation into a discrete categoryassociated with a set of response actions. For example, the securitysituation may be classified into a normal level (e.g., a normal securitysituation), an elevated level (e.g., a security situation with anelevated threat relative to the normal level), or the like. In someimplementations, security assessment device 165 may perform anevaluation of the information regarding the security situation whendetermining the threat assessment level. For example, securityassessment device 165 may classify the security situation as beingrelated to a known threat (e.g., a known malicious software), an unknownthreat (e.g., an unknown malicious software), or the like.

In some implementations, security assessment device 165 may determine aspecificity associated with the security situation. For example, priorto a commercial event, security assessment device 165 may determine thesecurity situation to be a non-specific security situation (e.g., athreat may relate to the commercial event but no direct threat has beenreceived). By contrast, when a threat of a DDOS attack is received(e.g., via a communication channel) with regards to the web platform,security assessment device 165 may determine the security situation tobe related to a higher degree of specificity relative to thenon-specific security situation.

In some implementations, security assessment device 165 may determine aquantity of attacks being encountered. For example, security assessmentdevice 165 may determine that the quantity of attempted attacks on theweb platform is less than a baseline (normal) level, approximately atthe base level, exceeding the baseline level, or the like. In someimplementations, security assessment device 165 may determine that thequantity of attacks satisfies a threshold quantity associated with aparticular security level, and security assessment device 165 may selectthe threat assessment level based on the threshold quantity.

In some implementations, security assessment device 165 may determine adamage metric related to the security situation. For example, securityassessment device 165 may determine a metric relating to an extent towhich the web platform has been damaged in the security situation, suchas an extent to which information has been exfiltrated from the webplatform, an extent to which one or more webpages of the web platformhave been maliciously altered, an expected cost of remediation, or thelike. In this case, security assessment device 165 may determine thethreat assessment level based on the metric relating to the quantity ofdamage.

In some implementations, security assessment device 165 may determinethe threat assessment level based on multiple parameters. For example,security assessment device 165 may determine the threat assessment levelbased on the quantity of attacks, the specificity of the securitysituation, the damage metric, or the like. In some implementations,security assessment device 165 may applying a weighting to the multipleparameters. For example, security assessment may apply a first weight tothe specificity of the security situation and a second weight to thedamage metric when determining the threat assessment level for thesecurity situation.

In some implementations, security assessment device 165 may determinethe threat assessment level based on a threat assessment threshold. Forexample, a particular threat assessment level may be associated with oneor more threshold criteria that, when satisfied, correspond to securityassessment device 165 selecting the particular threat assessment level.

As further shown in FIG. 8, process 800 may include causing a responseaction, associated with the threat assessment level, to be performed(block 830). For example, security assessment device 165 may perform theresponse action associated with the threat assessment level.Additionally, or alternatively, security assessment device 165 may causeanother device associated with the web platform to perform the responseaction. For example, security assessment device 165 may cause a controldevice of the web platform to re-configure a set of virtual networks,such as allocating a different quantity of computing resources for aparticular virtual network, de-activating a particular virtual network,activating a particular virtual network, replacing a first virtualnetwork with a second virtual network, or the like.

In some implementations, security assessment device 165 may identify theresponse action to be performed based on the threat assessment levelwhen causing the response action to be performed. For example, securityassessment device 165 may determine that a first threat assessment levelis associated with a first set of response actions and a second threatassessment level is associated with a second set of response actions. Inthis case, security assessment device 165 may utilize a data structurestoring information regarding response actions and threat assessmentlevels. Additionally, or alternatively, security assessment device 165may select from a set of response actions. For example, securityassessment device 165 may select a particular action to be performedfrom the multiple response actions associated with a particular threatassessment level. In some implementations, security assessment device165 may select the response action based on the security situation. Forexample, security assessment device 165 may determine that a DDOS attackand a user data exfiltration attack are associated with the same threatassessment level, but may select different response actions for the DDOSattack and the user data exfiltration attack to perform remediation.

In some implementations, security assessment device 165 may provide oneor more notifications based on the threat assessment level. For example,security assessment device 165 may provide an alert to a watch commander(e.g., a security user associated with managing a security situation),such as by transmitting the alert to a user device operated by the watchcommander. Additionally, or alternatively, security assessment device165 may provide information to one or more groups, such as a group ofmanagers, a legal team, a communications team, or the like. In someimplementations, security assessment device 165 may cause a group to beformed. For example, security assessment device 165 may provideinformation associated with the threat assessment level that triggers anincident response team (e.g., a group of users associated with managinga security situation) to be formed. In this case, security assessmentdevice 165 may provide information associated with assigning a quantityof computing resources to the incident response team, a set of authorityguidelines for the incident response team (e.g., information identifyinga hierarchy of operational authority with regards to the web platformand the security situation, a level of operation authority, etc.), orthe like.

Although FIG. 8 shows example blocks of process 800, in someimplementations, process 800 may include additional blocks, fewerblocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than thosedepicted in FIG. 8. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of theblocks of process 800 may be performed in parallel.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an example implementation 900 relating to exampleprocess 800 shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 shows an example of threatassessment levels.

As shown in FIG. 9, security assessment device 165 may classify asecurity situation based on a set of classifications, such as a firstlevel 905, a second level 910, a third level 915, a fourth level 920,and a fifth level 925. Another set of classifications including morelevels, fewer levels, different levels, or the like may be used inanother example.

In some implementations, each level may correspond to a set of thresholdcriteria. For example, a particular level may be assigned to a securitysituation when a threshold quantity of information is exfiltrated from adata structure. Additionally, or alternatively, a level may correspondto a group of users associated with mitigating the security situation.For example, the group of users may be pre-briefed (e.g., briefed inadvance of the security situation) regarding resources allocated to thegroup of users, a level of authority allocated to the group of users, orthe like.

First level 905 (e.g., a hierarchically lowest threat assessment levelrelative to other threat assessment levels of the set ofclassifications) may be associated with a security situation thatindicates a threat failing to satisfy a significance threshold. In someimplementations, first level 905 may be associated with a lack of eventsthat expose the web platform to a threat from a known malicious attackcapability. Similarly, first level 905 may be associated with a lack ofdetected surveillance (e.g., a lack of detection of one or more systemprobes, scans, or the like that may be determined to correspond topotential surveillance in advance of a malicious attack). First level905 may be associated with a set of response actions, such as securityassessment device 165 identifying mission critical information, systems,and operational importance thereof; monitoring points of access fornetwork traffic; or the like. In some implementations, first level 905may be associated with performing a set of baseline security practices,such as password management (e.g., causing periodic passwordreplacement), an internal security review, an external vulnerabilityassessment, auditing, file backup, identifying new types of maliciousfiles, installing patches, reporting, escalation testing (e.g., testingresponse actions associated with a higher threat assessment level), orthe like.

Second level 910 may be associated with a security situation indicatingan increased risk of attack relative to first level 905. For example,second level 910 may be associated with a general threat to the webplatform (e.g., a relatively higher level of threat than the threatfailing to satisfy a significance threshold). In some implementations,second level 910 may be associated with one or more events associatedwith an increased likelihood of an attack directed at the web platform,a threshold quantity of detected surveillance, or the like. In someimplementations, second level 910 may be associated with a set ofelevated security practices relative to first level 905, such as anincreased level of auditing, an increased level of file backup,generation of notifications for web platform users regarding the generalthreat, adoption of one or more defensive tactics (e.g., enablingadditional firewalls, increasing a level of firewall filtering, etc.),employment of enhanced reporting procedures, proactive threat assessmentlevel escalation (e.g., escalating the threat assessment level to ahigher threat assessment level prior to the criteria for the higherthreat assessment level being satisfied), or the like.

Third level 915 may be associated with a security situation indicating aspecific risk of an attack. For example, third level 915 may beassociated with a determined or predicted targeting of a particularsystem, location, unit, or operation associated with the web platform.In some implementations, third level 915 may be associated with anoccurrence of a major event associated with the web platform andcorresponding to an increased likelihood of attack, a quantity ofsurveillance satisfying an increased threshold relative to second level910, a detected network penetration or denial of service attack attempt(e.g., but without impact to the web platform), or the like. In someimplementations, third level 915 may be associated with a set ofelevated security practices relative to second level 910, such asperforming a proactive defensive action, an increased level of auditing,an increased level of file backup, an internal security review of one ormore critical systems of the web platform, assessment of newvulnerabilities, performing patching related to the new vulnerabilities,an increased level of reporting, or the like.

Fourth level 920 may be associated with a security situation indicatinga limited attack. For example, fourth level 920 may be associated with adetected ongoing attack, a predicted imminent attack, or the like. Insome implementations, fourth level 920 may be associated with an attackthat causes limited interference with web platform operations, such asbased on detecting a threshold attack successfulness, performing attackprevention with a threshold level of successfulness, determining that athreshold quantity of data and/or systems have been compromised,determining that the web platform satisfies an operation threshold(e.g., a threshold relating to an assessment of whether operation of theweb platform is compromised by the attack), or the like. For example,fourth level 920 may be associated with an attack that is associatedwith a known recovery path, a suspected PCI leak, or the like. In someimplementations, fourth level 920 may be associated with a set ofelevated security practices relative to third level 915, such asperforming one or more response actions associated with the knownrecovery path, increasing a level of auditing to a threshold level,increasing a level of file backup to a threshold level, reconfigurationof one or more modules of the web platform to reduce vulnerabilities,rerouting one or more system operations of the web platform to one ormore unaffected systems of the web platform, executing one or moredefense techniques, increasing reporting to a threshold level, proactivethreat assessment level escalation, or the like.

Fifth level 925 may be associated with a security situation indicating ageneral attack. For example, fifth level 925 may be associated with adetected attack with a threshold impact to one or more operationsrelating to the web platform. In some implementations, fifth level 925may be associated with a threshold quantity of incidents that reduce webplatform functionality relative to pre-attack web platformfunctionality, a threshold risk to system data and/or one or moremodules associated with the web platform, an attack associated with arecovery path that is not known, a confirmed PCI leak, or the like. Insome implementations, fifth level 925 may be associated with a set ofelevated security practices relative to fourth level 920, such asassigning alternate devices and/or computing resources for routingcommunication regarding security procedures, providing informationassociated with and/or causing deactivation of one or more portions ofthe web platform, providing information associated with and/or causingan isolation of one or more devices and/or computing resources of theweb platform, or the like.

As shown by reference numbers 951-954 and 961-964, security assessmentdevice 165 may cause an escalation from a relatively lower threatassessment level to a relatively higher threat assessment level (e.g.,from first level 905 to second level 910) and/or a de-escalation from arelatively higher threat assessment level to a relatively lower threatassessment level (e.g., from fourth level 920 to third level 915). Insome implementations, security assessment device 165 may cause anescalation of two or more levels. For example, security assessmentdevice 165 may, when determining the threat assessment level, cause anescalation from first level 905 to fourth level 920, without causing theweb platform to operate at second level 910 and/or third level 915.

As indicated above, FIG. 9 is provided merely as an example. Otherexamples are possible and may differ from what was described with regardto FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of an example implementation 1000 relating toexample process 800 shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 shows an example ofperforming a security assessment.

As shown in FIG. 10, as shown by reference 1002, security assessmentdevice 165 may begin operation, which may include monitoring forinformation regarding a security situation, as shown by reference number1004. As shown by reference number 1006 based on obtaining informationregarding the situation when monitoring, security assessment device 165may determine that a security condition (e.g., a threshold associatedwith identifying a particular security situation) is triggered, such asdetecting a threshold quantity of scans of the web platform indicatingpotential surveillance for an attack. As shown by reference number 1008,security assessment device 165 provides a notification to a watchcommander regarding the security condition being triggered. As shown byreference number 1010, security assessment device 165 may determinewhether first level 905 is met by the security condition beingtriggered. In some implementations, security assessment device 165 mayreceive information associated with assessing the security situationbased on providing the notification to the watch commander. If one ormore criteria associated with first level 905 are not satisfied,security assessment device 165 may continue monitoring. If the one ormore criteria are satisfied, security assessment device 165 may generatea notification indicating that first level 905 is met, as shown byreference number 1012, and may cause one or more response actions to beperformed.

As further shown in FIG. 10, and by reference number 1014, securityassessment device 165 may determine whether one or more criteriaassociated with second level 910 are satisfied by the security conditionbeing triggered. If the one or more criteria associated with secondlevel 910 are not satisfied, security assessment device 165 mayestablish the threat assessment level at first level 905, and maycontinue monitoring. If the one or more criteria are satisfied, securityassessment device 165 may escalate the threat assessment level to secondlevel 910, may generate an alert notification, as shown by referencenumber 1016, and may cause one or more response actions to beimplemented.

As further shown in FIG. 10, and by reference number 1018, securityassessment device 165 may determine whether one or more criteriaassociated with third level 915 are met by the security condition beingtriggered. If the one or more criteria associated with third level 915are not satisfied, security assessment device 165 may establish thethreat assessment level at second level 910, and may continuemonitoring. If the one or more criteria are satisfied, securityassessment device 165 may escalate the threat assessment level to thirdlevel 915, may generate an alert notification, as shown by referencenumber 1020. As shown by reference number 1022, security assessmentdevice 165 may engage one or more designated system administrators, andmay cause one or more response actions to be implemented. The one ormore designated system administrators may include a set of users thatare designated a set of computing resources and a particular authorityfor managing the security situation, such as an authority to activate abackup system, an authority to perform one or more defensive techniques,or the like. Security assessment device 165 may provide a notificationto the one or more designated system administrators, select the one ormore designated system administrators from a group of designated systemadministrators, or the like.

As further shown in FIG. 10, and by reference number 1024, securityassessment device 165 may determine whether one or more criteriaassociated with fourth level 920 are met by the security condition beingtriggered. If the one or more criteria associated with fourth level 920are not satisfied, security assessment device 165 may establish thethreat assessment level at third level 915, and may continue monitoring.If the one or more criteria are satisfied, security assessment device165 may escalate the threat assessment level to fourth level 920, andmay generate an alert notification as shown by reference number 1026. Asshown by reference numbers 1028 and 1030, security assessment device 165may form an incident response team (IRT) and/or an incident managementgroup (IMG) based on escalating to fourth level 920. The IRT maydesignate an incident response recovery lead (IRRL) (e.g., a teamleader), may utilize pre-designated computing resources, may exerciseenhanced decision making authority relative to the one or moredesignated system administrators based on a decision of the IRRL, andmay remain active until the security situation is resolved. The IMG mayprovide communications support for the IRT and may exercise enhanceddecision making authority relative to the IRT.

As further shown in FIG. 10, and by reference number 1032, securityassessment device 165 may determine whether one or more criteria offifth level 925 are met by the security condition being triggered. Ifthe one or more criteria associated with fifth level 925 are notsatisfied, security assessment device 165 may establish the threatassessment level at fourth level 920, and may continue monitoring. Ifthe one or more criteria are satisfied, security assessment device 165may escalate the threat assessment level to fifth level 925, and mayform an emergency management committee (EMC), as shown by referencenumber 1036. The EMC may include critical stakeholders, such as businessowners of the web platform, communications representatives, legalrepresentatives, or the like and may exercise enhanced decision makingauthority relative to the IMG, such as shut-down authority with regardto the web platform. As further shown by reference number 1036, the IRT,IMG, EMG, or the like may remain active until the security situation isresolved. If the security situation is not resolved, security assessmentdevice 165 may for another group, cause additional computing resourcesto be provided to the group, provide an additional alert notification,or the like. When the security situation is resolved, as shown byreference numbers 1038 and 1040, security assessment device 165 maygenerate one or more notifications indicating that the securitysituation is resolved and may perform close-out activities, which mayinclude disbanding the IRT, IMG, EMG, or the like, de-escalating tofirst level 905, or the like.

As indicated above, FIG. 10 is provided merely as an example. Otherexamples are possible and may differ from what was described with regardto FIG. 10.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to theprecise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of theimplementations.

As used herein, the term component is intended to be broadly construedas hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software.

Some implementations are described herein in connection with thresholds.As used herein, satisfying a threshold may refer to a value beinggreater than the threshold, more than the threshold, higher than thethreshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than thethreshold, fewer than the threshold, lower than the threshold, less thanor equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, etc.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods, described herein, maybe implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, or acombination of hardware and software. The actual specialized controlhardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methodsis not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behaviorof the systems and/or methods were described herein without reference tospecific software code—it being understood that software and hardwarecan be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on thedescription herein.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of possible implementations. In fact,many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recitedin the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although eachdependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, thedisclosure of possible implementations includes each dependent claim incombination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed ascritical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as usedherein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or moreitems, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Furthermore,as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items,and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one itemis intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Also, as usedherein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended tobe open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean“based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: obtaining, by a device,information regarding a security situation of a set of computingresources associated with a cloud-based platform, the information beingrelated to an ongoing security threat or a potential security threat,the information being obtained utilizing one or more internet securityresources; determining, by the device, a threat assessment level, of aset of threat assessment levels, for the security situation based on theinformation regarding the security situation; the information regardingthe security situation satisfying a set of threshold criteria for thethreat assessment level; and performing, by the device, one or moreresponse actions associated with the threat assessment level based onthe security situation, the one or more response actions includingproviding an alert notification regarding the security situation thatidentifies the threat assessment level, performing the one or moreresponse actions including: determining a first allocation of computingresources for a first cloud-based network and a first allocation ofcomputing resources for a second cloud-based network, determining, basedon the threat assessment level, a second allocation of computingresources for the first cloud-based network and a second allocation ofcomputing resources for the second cloud-based network,  the secondallocation of computing resources for the first cloud-based networkbeing different from the first allocation of computing resources for thefirst cloud-based network,  the second allocation of computing resourcesfor the second cloud-based network being different from the firstallocation of computing resources for the second cloud-based network,and causing the second allocation of computing resources for the firstcloud-based network and the second allocation of computing resources forthe second cloud-based network to be implemented.
 2. The method of claim1, where the one or more response actions are pre-defined for the threatassessment level; and the method further comprising: selecting the oneor more response actions based on the threat assessment level; andperforming the one or more response actions based on selecting the oneor more response actions.
 3. The method of claim 1, where performing theone or more response actions comprises: establishing a group formanaging the security situation, the group being pre-briefed for thethreat assessment level; and causing the group to be allocated aquantity of computing resources for managing the security situation. 4.The method of claim 1, where the cloud-based platform includes aplurality of firewall devices; and where obtaining the informationregarding the security situation further comprises: obtaining theinformation from the plurality of firewall devices.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, where the alert notification includes information identifying aset of computing resources and a level of authority allocated for a userassociated with mitigating the security situation; and where performingthe one or more response actions comprises: providing the alertnotification to the user associated with mitigating the securitysituation.
 6. The method of claim 1, where performing the one or moreresponse actions comprises: dynamically re-configuring one or morevirtual networks of the cloud-based platform.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising: obtaining other information regarding the securitysituation, the other information satisfying a threat assessmentthreshold; and escalating the threat assessment level from the threatassessment level to another threat assessment level, the other threatassessment level being a higher threat assessment level than the threatassessment level; and performing another one or more response actionsassociated with the other threat assessment level.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: obtaining other information regarding thesecurity situation, the other information not satisfying a threatassessment threshold associated with the threat assessment level; andde-escalating the threat assessment level from the threat assessmentlevel to another threat assessment level, the other threat assessmentlevel being a lower threat assessment level than the threat assessmentlevel; and performing another one or more response actions associatedwith the other threat assessment level.
 9. A system including aplurality of cloud-based networks associated with a web platform, afirst cloud-based network, of the plurality of cloud-based networks,including a first set of virtual networks, a second cloud-based network,of the plurality of cloud-based networks, including a second set ofvirtual networks, the second set of virtual networks resembling aportion of the first set of virtual networks, the system comprising: oneor more hardware processors, configured to: obtain information regardinga security situation associated with the web platform; identify a threatassessment level, of a set of threat assessment levels, corresponding tothe security situation, the threat assessment level being associatedwith a set of threshold criteria that are satisfied by the securitysituation, the threat assessment level being associated with a set ofresponse actions that are associated with remediating the securitysituation; and cause one or more response actions, of the set ofresponse actions, to be performed to remediate the security situation,the one or more response actions including providing an alertnotification regarding the security situation that identifies the threatassessment level, the one or more hardware processors, when causing theone or more response actions to be performed, being configured to:determine a first allocation of computing resources for the firstcloud-based network and a first allocation of computing resources forthe second cloud-based network, determine, based on the threatassessment level, a second allocation of computing resources for thefirst cloud-based network and a second allocation of computing resourcesfor the second cloud-based network,  the second allocation of computingresources for the first cloud-based network being different from thefirst allocation of computing resources for the first cloud-basednetwork,  the second allocation of computing resources for the secondcloud-based network being different from the first allocation ofcomputing resources for the second cloud-based network, and cause thesecond allocation of computing resources for the first cloud-basednetwork and the second allocation of computing resources for the secondcloud-based network to be implemented.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherethe one or more hardware processors are further configured to: determinea group of users associated with performing the one or more responseactions; and provide, to the group of users and before an occurrence ofthe security situation, information identifying the one or more responseactions.
 11. The system of claim 9, where the one or more hardwareprocessors are further configured to: request information regarding thesecurity situation from a security utility of a particular virtualnetwork, the particular virtual network being associated with the webplatform; and receive the information regarding the security situationfrom the particular virtual network based on requesting the information.12. The system of claim 9, where the one or more hardware processors arefurther configured to: determine that another security situation isassociated with another threat assessment level, the other threatassessment level being a lower threat assessment level than the threatassessment level, the other security situation occurring before thesecurity situation, the other security situation being associated with afirst quantity of computing resources allocated for one or more firewalldevices of the web platform; determine that the security situationsatisfies the set of threshold criteria associated with the threatassessment level; and cause the one or more firewall devices of the webplatform to be allocated for a second quantity of computing resources,the second quantity of computing resources being greater than the firstquantity of computing resources.
 13. The system of claim 9, furthercomprising: a plurality of firewalls, a firewall being configured toprovide the information regarding the security situation; and aplurality of web application firewalls (WAFs), a WAF being configured toprovide information regarding the security situation.
 14. The system ofclaim 9, where, when obtaining the information regarding the securitysituation, the one or more hardware processors are configured to: obtainthe information regarding the security situation from one or moreInternet resources, the one or more Internet resources providinginformation regarding at least one of: an event, a network trafficpattern, a type of malicious file, a patch, a recovery path, or a threatof an attack.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storinginstructions, the instructions comprising: one or more instructionsthat, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the oneor more processors to: obtain information regarding a security situationof a set of computing resources, the information being related to anongoing security threat or a potential security threat, the informationbeing obtained utilizing one or more Internet security resources;determine a threat assessment level, of a set of threat assessmentlevels, for the security situation based on the information regardingthe security situation, each threat assessment level, of the set ofthreat assessment levels, being associated with a set of thresholdcriteria and a set of response actions; and cause one or more responseactions, associated with the threat assessment level, to be performedbased on the security situation, the one or more instructions to causethe one or more response actions including one or more instructions to:determine a first allocation of computing resources for a firstcloud-based network and a first allocation of computing resources for asecond cloud-based network, determine, based on the threat assessmentlevel, a second allocation of computing resources for the firstcloud-based network and a second allocation of computing resources forthe second cloud-based network, the second allocation of computingresources for the first cloud-based network being different from thefirst allocation of computing resources for the first cloud-basednetwork, the second allocation of computing resources for the secondcloud-based network being different from the first allocation ofcomputing resources for the second cloud-based network, and cause thesecond allocation of computing resources for the first cloud-basednetwork and the second allocation of computing resources for the secondcloud-based network to be implemented.
 16. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 15, where the one or moreinstructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the oneor more processors to: receive information regarding the securitysituation from one or more security utilities of a virtual networkassociated with the set of computing resources.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 15, where the one or moreinstructions, that cause the one or more processors to cause the one ormore response actions to be performed, cause the one or more processorsto: provide an alert notification to a group of users regarding thesecurity situation, the group of users being pre-briefed regarding thethreat assessment level, a level of authority for managing one or moresecurity situations associated with the threat assessment level, and anallocation of computing resources for managing the one or more securitysituations.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15,where the one or more instructions, when executed by the one or moreprocessors, further cause the one or more processors to: receiveinformation regarding one or more detected probes of the set ofcomputing resources; determine that the one or more detected probescorrespond to the potential security threat; and where the one or moreinstructions, that cause the one or more processors to determine thethreat assessment level, cause the one the one or more processors to:determine the threat assessment level based on determining that the oneor more detected probes correspond to the potential security threat. 19.The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the oneor more instructions, when executed by the one or more processors,further cause the one or more processors to: obtain other informationregarding the security situation; and escalate to a first other threatassessment level from the threat assessment level based on the otherinformation regarding the security situation, the first other threatassessment level being a higher threat assessment level than the threatassessment level, or de-escalate to a second other threat assessmentlevel from the threat assessment level based on the other informationregarding the security situation, the second other threat assessmentlevel being a lower threat assessment level than the threat assessmentlevel.
 20. The system of claim 9, where the one or more response actionsare pre-defined for the threat assessment level, and where the one ormore hardware processors are further configured to: select the one ormore response actions based on the threat assessment level; and performthe one or more response actions based on selecting the one or moreresponse actions.